Comparative experimental analysis on various picking types under dedicated and random storage assignments for automated storage and retrieval systems

Product storage policy, single picking volume and picking routing are the three factors of vital importance that affect the efficiency of a crane to pick goods in automated storage and retrieval systems(AS/RS). Comparative experiments on picking efficiency were conducted targeting picking operation with order of 1 to 20. Based on dedicated and random storage policies, 4 picking methods of patching-based, S-type, return-type and optimized-type routes were used and compared in the experiments. The results show that either the dedicated policy or the random policy was applied, crane worked most efficiently with optimizedtype route, followed by S-type path, patching-based path, and return-type path. When the number of orders in a single picking is larger(more than 5), the random storage policy is preferable to the dedicated policy.

A systematic review of dedicated models of care for emergency urological patients

Objective:To systematically evaluate the spectrum of models providing dedicated resources for emergency urological patients(EUPs).Methods:A search of Cochrane,Embase,Medline and grey literature from January 1,2000 to March 26,2019 was performed using methods pre-published on PROSPERO.Reporting followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and meta-analysis guidelines.Eligible studies were articles or abstracts published in English describing dedicated models of care for EUPs,which reported at least one secondary outcome.Studies were excluded if they examined pathways dedicated only to single presentations,such as torsion,or outpatient solutions,such as rapid access clinics.The primary outcome was the spectrum of models.Secondary outcomes were time-to-theatre,length of stay,complications and cost.Results:Seven studies were identified,totalling 487 patients.Six studies were conference abstracts,while one study was of full-text length but published in grey literature.Four distinct models were described.These included consultant urologists allocated solely to the care of EUPs(“Acute Urological Unit”)or dedicated registrars or operating theatres(“Hybrid structures”).In some services,EUPs bypassed emergency department assessment and were referred directly to urology(“Urological Assessment Unit”)or were managed by other dedicated means.Allocating services to EUPs was associated with reduced time-to-theatre,length of stay and hospital cost,and improved supervision of junior medical staff.Conclusion:Multiple dedicated models of care exist for EUPs.Low-level evidence suggests these may improve outcomes for patients,staff and hospitals.Higher quality studies are required to explore patient outcomes and minimum requirements to establish these models.

A Coordination-Based Algorithm for Dedicated Destination Vehicle Routing in B2B E-Commerce

This paper proposes a solution to the open vehicle routing problem with time windows(OVRPTW)considering third-party logistics(3PL).For the typical OVRPTW problem,most researchers consider time windows,capacity,routing limitations,vehicle destination,etc.Most researchers who previously investigated this problem assumed the vehicle would not return to the depot,but did not consider its final destination.However,by considering 3PL in the B2B e-commerce,the vehicle is required back to the nearest 3PL location with available space.This paper formulates the problem as a mixed integer linear programming(MILP)model with the objective of minimizing the total travel distance.A coordinate representation particle swarm optimization(CRPSO)algorithm is developed to obtain the best delivery sequencing and the capacity of each vehicle.Results of the computational study show that the proposed method provides solution within a reasonable amount of time.Finally,the result compared to PSO also indicates that the CRPSO is effective.

Dedicated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences:Contribution in the Diagnosis of Focal Epilepsy in the Lebanese Population

There have been many advances in the diagnosis and management of focal epilepsies particularly with neuroimaging techniques and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).Special MRI sequences can be employed to localize and resect the epileptogenic lesions responsible for focal epilepsy.This study aims to show the benefit of dedicated epilepsy MRI sequences in the diagnosis of focal epilepsies.A general electric 1.5 Tesla MRI machine was used with standard and special sequences.Also,a Nihon Kohden electroencephalography(EEG)machine was used.This is a prospective observational study that included 51 patients with focal epilepsies who had an initial negative brain imaging.They underwent epilepsy MRI sequences along with a prolonged video EEG monitoring to localize the lesion,and then results were analyzed statistically using SPSS 22 program.The majority of patients were males(62.75%)with a mean age of 30 years.The grand majority of patients(74.5%,p value of 0.001)had their lesion localized by the epilepsy MRI.The most commonly found pathology was mesial temporal sclerosis.A significant number of patients(23.5%)were sent for an epilepsy surgery(p value 0.002).This study shows the significant impact of dedicated epilepsy MRI sequences on the diagnosis and management of focal epilepsy in the Lebanese population.

Rational Cost Estimation of Dedicated Software Systems

Dedicated software systems hold a character of individual solutions that entail particular problems with regard to their cost estimation. Thus for many years now objective and reliable approaches to the cost estimation of such systems have been sought out so that they could provide the possibility to make rational investment decisions concerning those systems. The purpose of this paper is to bring in the approach to cost estimation of dedicated software systems that has been recently growing in global popularity, using it as a background for presenting conclusions resulting from practical verification of author’s own model of dedicated software system cost estimation based on that approach.

Evaluating Dedicated Slices of Different Configurations in 5G Core

Network slicing is one of the most important concepts in 5G networks. It is enabled by the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technology to allow a set of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) to be interconnected to form a Network Service (NS). When network slices are created in 5G, some are shared among different 5G services while the others are dedicated to specific 5G services. The latter are called dedicated slices. Dedicated slices can be constructed with different configurations. In this research, dedicated slices of different configurations in 5G Core were evaluated in order to discover which one would perform better than the others. The performance of three systems would be compared: 1) Free5GC Stage 2 with each dedicated slice consisting of only UPF;2) Free5GC Stage 3 with each dedicated slice consisting of only UPF;3) Free5GC Stage 3 with each dedicated slice consisting of both SMF and UPF in terms of their registration time, response time, throughput, resource cost, and CPU utilization. It is shown that not one of the above systems will always be the best choice;based on the requirements, a specific system may be the best under a specific situation.

Su Moying -a Woman Teacher Dedicated to the Countryside

SU Moying, of Sheke Village, S h e k e To w n s h i p , Lanxian County, Shanxi Province, has been teaching in the countryside for 20 of her 48 years. She

A Portable Multi-functional Real-time Digital Simulator Dedicated to Protective Relay Testing

The paper intfoduces a PC-DSP based real-time digital simulator which is portable in size and aimed at the closed-loop testing of various types of protective relays for their design and application. The simulator can be widely used in not only concerning utilities but also manufacturers and research / certification institutes because of its many functions. The hardware architecture and software implementation of the simulator are described. The main features and functions of the simulator are also

The Pattern of Neurological Disorders;Revisited Prevalence Data of a Dedicated Neurology Clinic in Sudan

Background: The diverse modes in geographical locations, environmental factors, genetic and racial characteristics play a complex role in determining the pattern of neurological disorders worldwide. Determining the pattern of neurological disorders enables health policymakers to plan evidently for service, training, and research priorities. Few prevalence studies in neurology were conducted in Sudan. Methods: This is a retrospective hospital-based study that reviewed the medical records of patients who attended a Dedicated Neurology Clinic (DNC) in Omdurman, the national Capital of Sudan, for 24 months, from January 2016 to January 2018. This study aimed to determine the DNC pattern of neurological disorders as a representative subset prevalence in Sudan. Neurologists conducted the medical workup for diagnosis after at least two visits. All patients have ethically consented. Results: The total number of patients was 1050. Only 749 patients (71.3%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 46.5 ± 1.9, and males were 45.3%. 72% were from the Capital. The presenting symptoms were headache (16.6%), seizures (11.5%), limbs weakness (11.2%), and lower percentages for other neurological symptoms. The commonest diagnoses were Stroke 12.4%, Epilepsy 9.3%, Primary Headache 8.8%, Movement Disorders 7.3%, Peripheral Neuropathy 6%, Dementia 4% Neuroinfections 1.4%, Demyelinating Disorders 2.6%, Spinal Spondylotic Radiculopathy 2.6% and 1.7% for Cerebral Venous Thrombosis. Conclusion: The data from Sudan-DNC showed that the most common neurological disorders descendingly were Stroke, Epilepsy, Headache, Movement Disorders, Peripheral Neuropathy, Dementia, Infections, Demyelinating Disorders, Spinal Spondylotic Radiculopathy, and Cerebral Venous Thrombosis. The demyelinating disorders and peripheral neuropathy showed a higher percentage than our previous preliminary prevalence study in 2012 compared to the other conditions, which showed similar rates in that study.

Analysis of Non-Selective Catalyst Reduction Performance with Dedicated Exhaust Gas Recirculation

Rich burn industrial natural gas engines offer best in class post catalyst emissions by using a non-selective catalyst reduction aftertreatment technology. However, they operate with reduced power density when compared to lean burn engines. Dedicated exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) offers a possible pathway for rich burn engines to use non-selective catalyst reduction aftertreatment technology without sacrificing power density. In order to achieve best in class post catalyst emissions, the precious metals and washcoat of a non-selective catalyst must be designed according to the expected exhaust composition of an engine. In this work, a rich burn industrial natural gas engine operating with dedicated EGR was paired with a commercially available non-selective catalyst. At rated brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) the air-fuel ratio was swept between rich and lean conditions to compare the catalyst reduction efficiency and post catalyst emissions of rich burn and dedicated EGR combustion. It was found that due to low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions across the entire air-fuel ratio range, dedicated EGR offers a much larger range of air-fuel ratios where low regulated emissions can be met. Low engine out NOx also points towards a possibility of using an oxidation catalyst rather than a non-selective catalyst for dedicated EGR applications. The location of the NOx-CO tradeoff was shifted to more rich conditions using dedicated EGR.

A Dedicated Gardener for the Blossoming of Sino-German S&T Cooperation——In Memory of Prof. Uli Schwarz

On the afternoon of 21 December, 2006, Uli Schwarz, professor emeritus of the German Max Planck Society (MPG) and founding director of the CAS Shanghai Institute for Advanced Stud-

Systematic Synthesis of Dedicated Hybrid Transmission

The great diversity of dedicated hybrid transmissions(DHTs)requires a method to identify solutions among all potential concepts involved in each structure.Therefore,a DHT synthesis tool is developed on the basis of general transmission synthesis.In the first synthesis step,transmission structures are generated with only conventional functions such as driving with only the internal combustion engine.Electric machines are then installed in the transmissions to achieve further hybrid functions,including boosting,eCVT and electric driving modes.The number of generated transmission concepts increases exponentially with each synthesis step.Various evaluations are carried out successively to identify the most suitable DHT concepts among the many possible solutions.The generated DHT concepts are evaluated in terms of structural feasibility,driving modes,drivability and load factors on transmission components.An example of DHT synthesis involving planetary gear sets is explained in detail.The best five DHT structures are identified out of more than 120 billion solutions.

Monte Carlo simulation of glandular dose in a dedicated breast CT system

A dedicated breast CT system （DBCT） is a new method for breast cancer detection proposed in recent years. In this paper, the glandular dose in the DBCT is simulated using the Monte Carlo method. The phantom shape is half ellipsoid, and a series of phantoms with different sizes, shapes and compositions were constructed. In order to optimize the spectra, monoenergy X-ray beams of 5-80 keV were used in simulation. The dose distribution of a breast phantom was studied： a higher energy beam generated more uniform distribution, and the outer parts got more dose than the inner parts. For polyenergtic spectra, four spectra of A1 filters with different thicknesses were simulated, and the polyenergtic glandular dose was calculated as a spectral weighted combination of the monoenergetic dose.

Traffic signal coordination control for arterials with dedicated CAV lanes

Purpose–This study aims to make full use of the advantages of connected and autonomous vehicles(CAVs)and dedicated CAV lanes to ensure all CAVs can pass intersections without stopping.Design/methodology/approach–The authors developed a signal coordination model for arteries with dedicated CAV lanes by using mixed integer linear programming.CAV non-stop constraints are proposed to adapt to the characteristics of CAVs.As it is a continuous problem,various situations that CAVs arrive at intersections are analyzed.The rules are discovered to simplify the problem by discretization method.Findings–A case study is conducted via SUMO traffic simulation program.The results show that the efficiency of CAVs can be improved significantly both in high-volume scenario and medium-volume scenario with the plan optimized by the model proposed in this paper.At the same time,the progression efficiency of regular vehicles is not affected significantly.It is indicated that full-scale benefits of dedicated CAV lanes can only be achieved with signal coordination plans considering CAV characteristics.Originality/value–To the best of the authors’knowledge,this is the first research that develops a signal coordination model for arteries with dedicated CAV lanes.

Special issue dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Nankai University

Nankai University was founded in 1919 by the famous patriotic educators Yan Xiu and Zhang Boling who practiced the ideology of 'Saving the Nation through Education,' and it is a comprehensive university that is directly governed by the Ministry of Education;it is undergoing national strategic construction for being among world’s top universities. With the motto of 'Dedication to Public Interests, Acquisition of All-Round Capability, and Aspiration for Daily Progress';holding the aim of 'Knowing China and Serving China'.

Materials chemistry at Nankai University: A special issue dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Nankai University

It is our great honor to dedicate this special issue of Science China Materials to Nankai University(NKU)in celebration of its 100th anniversary.Established by two famous patriotic educators Xiu Yan and Boling Zhang in1919,NKU is one of China’s top universities with a long tradition in education.It has been playing essential roles as a pioneer in the course of China’s modernization with the aim of“Knowing China and Serving China”.Chemistry at NKU has a rich history.